Apparatus for distributing particulate material

ABSTRACT

Particulate material for coating foodstuffs falling from a belt of a conveyor within a rotatable drum is distributed substantially evenly over the interior wall of the drum by a guiding device which includes at least one movable plate which is positioned below the belt and which has a longitudinal axis parallel to the end of the belt. The particulate material distributed from the belt to the drum is conveyed by the drum to a conveyor which delivers particulate coating material to a foodstuff to be coated.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of coating afoodstuff with a particulate material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Normally, during the coating of foodstuffs with particulate material,large amounts of coating material fall off the foodstuff during thecoating process, and it is important that this excess coating materialis reused. In conventional equipment used, for example, in coatingfrozen fish on both sides with bread crumbs, excess coating material isnormally transported upwards for reuse by means of elevator screws.However, not only are delicate crumbs damaged by screws, but also largeamounts of coating material are always in circulation and exposed to thewarm air of the environment which is not desirable since it is importantthat the coating material should be maintained at as low a temperatureas possible. Therefore, in many cases even today, coating of certainproducts with particulate material is carried out manually.

In U.S. Pat. No. 4,762,083, a completely new principle is described forcoating a foodstuff with a particulate material using an apparatus whichis not only very much simpler but also enables very much smaller amountsof coating material to be in circulation at any period in time whencompared with conventional apparatus. This apparatus comprises:

a drum capable of rotating about a substantially horizontal longitudinalaxis;

a first horizontal conveyor adapted to travel through the drum;

a second horizontal conveyor below the first conveyor, adapted to travelin a direction opposite the first conveyor, the second conveyorcomprising at least first, second and third successive endless beltseach having a horizontal upper run and a gap between each successivepair of belts, the second belt having an inclined portion extending to aposition below the first belt, the gap between the second and thirdbelts being situated within the drum;

means for feeding particulate material onto the first conveyor; and

means for feeding a foodstuff onto the first belt;

such that in operation, particulate material is fed from the firstconveyor onto the foodstuff on the first belt for coating the foodstuffon an upper side, the coated foodstuff is transported to the second beltwith excess particulate material falling off the first belt onto theinclined portion of the second belt and is conveyed to the horizontalupper run of the second belt for coating the foodstuff on a bottom side,the coated foodstuff is fed to the third belt with further particulatematerial falling through the gap between the second and third belts ontoan inside wall of the drum which rotates for conveying the furthermaterial to a position above the first conveyor upon which the furthermaterial falls by gravity, and the first conveyor transports the furthermaterial back to the second conveyor.

However, although this apparatus enables the foodstuff to be coated onall sides, the coating is not always satisfactorily uniform owing to thefact that an even distribution of particulate material is not alwaysobtained before the particulate material reaches the foodstuff. I havenow discovered that one reason for this is that the further particulatematerial falling through the gap between the second and third belts ontothe inside wall of the drum does not form a sufficiently even layer overthe whole axial width of the inside wall of the drum so that when thisfurther particulate material has been conveyed by the rotation of thedrum to a position above the first conveyor, it does not form an evenlayer on the first conveyor as it falls onto it. This means that thefurther particulate material is not transported evenly to the secondconveyor on which the foodstuff is lying.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

I have surprisingly found that if a guiding device is provided todistribute the further particulate material falling between the secondand third belts substantially evenly over the whole axial width of theinside wall of the drum, a satisfactorily uniform coating is obtained onall sides of the foodstuff.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an apparatus which includesan endless belt for conveying particulate material for coatingfoodstuffs positioned to extend to an end which terminates within thehollow of a rotatable drum and includes a guiding device which comprisesat least one movable plate which is positioned beneath and has alongitudinal axis parallel to the end of the belt so that in operation,each plate is movable to guide and distribute conveyed foodstuff coatingparticulate material falling from the end of the belt substantiallyevenly over the interior wall of the drum for coating a foodstuff withparticulate material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The foodstuff coating apparatus of the present invention comprises:

a drum capable of rotating about a substantially horizontal longitudinalaxis;

a first conveyor adapted to travel through the drum;

a second conveyor below the first conveyor, the second conveyorcomprising at least first, second and third successive endless beltseach having a substantially horizontal upper run and a gap between eachsuccessive pair of belts, the second belt having an inclined portionextending to a position below the first belt, the gap between the secondand third belts being situated within the drum;

means for feeding particulate material onto the first conveyor; and

means for feeding a foodstuff onto the first belt; such that inoperation, particulate material is fed from the first conveyor onto thefoodstuff on the first belt for coating the foodstuff on an upper side,the coated foodstuff is transported to the second belt with excessparticulate material falling off the first belt onto the portion of thesecond belt below the first belt and is conveyed to the substantiallyhorizontal upper run of the second belt to form a layer on which thecoated foodstuff lies after being transported from the first belt to thesubstantially horizontal upper run of the second belt for coating thefoodstuff on a bottom side, the coated foodstuff is fed to the thirdbelt with further particulate material falling through the gap betweenthe second and third belts onto an inside wall of the drum which rotatesfor conveying the further material to a position above the firstconveyor upon which the further material falls by gravity, and the firstconveyor transports the further material back to the second conveyorcharacterised in that there is provided a guiding device fordistributing the further particulate material falling through the gapbetween the second and third belts onto the inside wall of the drum sothat it forms a substantially even layer over the axial width of theinside wall of the drum.

The guiding device is usually positioned inside the drum below thesecond conveyor preferably beneath the gap between the second and thirdbelts. In one embodiment of the invention, the guiding device maycomprise two or more stationary guide plates extending downwards whichguide the falling further particulate material and which are adjustablemanually to the appropriate angle to obtain an even distribution of thefurther particulate material over the axial width of the inside wall ofthe drum. However, the adjustment of the guide plates often has to becarried out during the operation of the apparatus while the drum isrotating, and it is both difficult and dangerous to reach the adjustingand locking, screws inside the drum.

In a preferred embodiment, the guiding device may comprise one or moreplates extending downwards, the upper edges of which lie parallel to,and are of substantially the same width as, the upstream edge of thesecond belt of the second conveyor. The plates are adapted to oscillateautomatically in the axial direction of the drum especially with aswinging or pendulous motion. For instance, the plates may be attachedto a pin which is adapted to rock to and fro, for example other by meansof a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder. Other types of guiding devicesinvolve the use of an air current, a fan or a rotating starwheel, butguiding devices involving the use of brushes or adjustable screws areless preferred.

Conveniently, the inside wall of the drum is partitioned by means ofplates extending inwardly from the circumference defining peripherallyadjacent and inwardly opening pockets. Advantageously, positionedadjacent and spaced from the inside wall of the drum, and separated fromthe wall of the drum by the inwardly extending plates, is an arcuatestationary baffle plate for retaining the particulate material which hasfallen through the gap between the second and third belts onto theinside wall of the rotating drum. The baffle plate extends from theapproximate level of the second conveyor within the drum to a positionabove the first conveyor where the upper part of the baffle plate isprofiled to enable the particulate material carried by the rotating drumto be distributed evenly over the width of the first conveyor.

Since it is quite common for particulate material to stick in thepockets of the drum, it is advantageous to have an automatic cleaningdevice which cleans the inside wall or pockets of the drum duringrotation of the drum at a position where the wall is descending afterthe particulate material has fallen by gravity from the inside wall ofthe drum onto the first conveyor, but before the position where theexcess particulate material falls through the gap between the second andthird belts of the second conveyor onto the inside wall of the rotatingdrum. The cleaning may be carried out by means of compressed air blowingthrough a pipe positioned adjacent the inward edges of the inwardlyextending plates defining the pockets. Alternatively, the cleaning maybe carried out by a reciprocating brush or wire which may be fitted to afixed pneumatic cylinder, positioned adjacent the inward edges of theradial plates defining the pockets. The reciprocating movement issynchronised with the speed of rotation of the drum so that the brush orwire advances to enter a pocket at the leading end, where it scrapes theinner wall of the drum as the drum rotates, and retreats from the pocketat the rear end.

The first conveyor is conveniently substantially horizontal and ispreferably an endless belt substantially without perforations. The freshparticulate material, together with that which has fallen by gravityfrom the upper inside surface of the drum is conveniently transported toan extremity of the first conveyor from where it is transported onto thefoodstuff travelling on the first belt of the conveyor below.Conveniently, the first conveyor is adapted to vibrate. When the firstconveyor is an endless belt, the vibration may conveniently be achievedby means of a triangular roller situated beneath and in contact with theupper run between the two end rollers. This enables a more evendistribution of the particulate material. Advantageously, the firstconveyor is adapted to travel in a direction opposite to the secondconveyor.

Preferably, a vibrator is positioned between the first and secondconveyors to receive the particulate material which falls off theextremity of the first conveyor to distribute it onto the foodstufftravelling on the lower conveyor.

For some foodstuffs, it is advantageous if the particulate materialmeets the foodstuff as it travels on the first belt of the secondconveyor with a force greater than gravity so that the coating stickswell to the surface of the foodstuff. This may be achieved by a rotatingstardrum or brushdrum positioned within the flow of particulate materialabove the foodstuff on the first belt of the second conveyor.

The first belt of the second conveyor may be solid so that all excessparticulate material falls off the leading edge onto the position of thesecond belt lying below the first belt. In this case, advantageouslythere is an additional belt having a horizontal upper run locatedbetween the first and second belts above the portion of the second beltlying below the first belt, there being a gap between the additionalbelt and the first belt and the upper run of the second belt, such thatthe foodstuff coated on the upper side is transported from the firstbelt onto the additional belt and then to the second belt with excessparticulate material falling through the gap between the first andadditional belt onto the portion of the second belt lying below thefirst belt. Advantageously, a pivotally adjustable plate may be providedbeneath the gap between the first and additional belt to adjust theamount of particulate material falling onto the portion of the secondbelt lying below the first belt.

However, the first belt of the second conveyor is advantageouslyperforated to enable excess particulate material to fall through theperforations onto the portion of the second belt below the first belt.It is also possible for the first belt of the second conveyor to beperforated together with a solid plate mounted beneath the upper runwhich may be stationary or adjustable e.g., pivoted or slidable tocontrol the amount of particulate material falling onto the portion ofthe second belt below the first belt. Any belt containing gaps orapertures is suitable, but a wire mesh is especially preferred. Theperforations may have a pitch up to 2.5 cm or more depending upon thesize of the particulate material.

The second and third belts of the lower horizontal conveyor arepreferably solid belts substantially without perforations or perforatedbelts with a solid plate mounted beneath the upper run. If desired, oneor more belts may be provided which succeed the third belt to carry thecoated food product away.

The foodstuff may be any foodstuff which may be coated with particulatematerial, for example chocolate, confectionery, ice cream, vegetables,meat or fish. In some cases, before being coated, the foodstuff isconveniently treated to enable the particulate material to adhere to thefoodstuff. For example, an adhesive surface may be formed onconfectionery articles by heating or the application of a binding agentwhile fish may be battered. Ice cream may be heated by infrared heatingor steam to impart a sticky surface to it.

The particulate material may be any kind of crumb, granular or powderymaterial such as bread or confectionery, crumbs, nut splinters, flour,starch, raisins, sugar crystals, shredded cheese, or particulatematerial from dehydrated potato, for example, potato flakes, potatopowder or potato granules.

The present invention also provides a method for coating a foodstuffwith a particulate material comprising:

transporting particulate material on a first substantially horizontalconveyor;

transporting a foodstuff on a second substantially horizontal conveyorpositioned below the first conveyor in a direction opposite that of thefirst conveyor, the second conveyor comprising at least first, secondand third successive endless belts each having a substantiallyhorizontal upper run and a gap between each successive pair of belts,the second belt having an inclined portion extending to a position belowthe first belt;

feeding the particulate material from the first conveyor onto thefoodstuff on the first belt for coating the foodstuff on an upper side;

transporting the coated foodstuff to the upper run of the second beltwhile particulate material falls off the first belt onto the portion ofthe second belt lying below the first belt for being conveyed from theinclined portion to the horizontal upper run of the second belt forforming a layer onto which the coated foodstuff is transported for beingcoated on a bottom side after being transported from the first belt tothe upper run of the second belt;

transporting the coated foodstuff to the third belt with particulatematerial falling through the gap between the second and third belts ontoan inside wall of a drum through which the first and second conveyorstravel; and

rotating the drum for transporting the particulate material to aposition above the first conveyor upon which the particulate materialfalls by gravity characterised in that the particulate material fallingthrough the gap between the second and third belts is distributed by aguiding device to form a substantially even layer over the axial widthof the inside wall of the drum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is further illustrated by way of example withreference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional side view of the apparatus for coating foodstuff.

FIG. 2 is a transverse section through the drum illustrated in FIG. 1along the line A--A in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the upper end of a stationary platepositioned adjacent the inside wall of the drum.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a guiding device.

FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of a drum fitted with a guiding deviceshown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of part of the wall of the drum showing onetype of cleaning device for the wall of the drum.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of part of the wall of the drum showinganother type of cleaning device for the wall of the drum.

FIG. 8 is a sectional side view of the apparatus for coating foodstuffswhich includes illustration of a guiding device of the present inventionand includes a schematic representation of an additional plate which ispositioned to adjust an amount of material falling from one belt toanother.

FIG. 9 is a sectional side view of a part of the food coating apparatuswhich has a perforated belt and includes a schematic representation ofan additional plate to control particulate flow.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus generally designated 10comprises a horizontal conveyor for transporting a foodstuff, consistingof a solid belt 11, wire mesh belts 12 and 13 and solid belts 14 and 15,belts 12, 14 and 15 being hereinbefore described as the first, secondand third belts, respectively, and belt 13 being hereinbefore describedas the additional belt. Beneath the upper runs of wire belts 12 and 13are solid plates 16 and 17, respectively. In between wire belts 12 and13 is a spreading roller 18. The upper run of solid belt 14 has aninclined portion 19 and a horizontal portion 20. Positioned above thehorizontal conveyor is a vibrator 21 having an entry opening 22 and anexit opening 23 above wire belt 12, and positioned above the horizontalportion 20 of the upper run of solid belt 14 is a pressure roller 24.

Situated above the vibrator and pressure roller is a horizontal solidendless conveyor belt 25 provided with side walls, trained aroundrollers 26 and 27 and having a triangular roller 28 underneath the upperrun positioned so that the angles contact the upper run as it rotates.The roller 26 is positioned directly over the entry opening 22 of thevibrator 21.

A rotating drum 29 having open ends and having a wall whichcircumscribes a drum hollow portion, driven by drive rollers 30, 31 ispositioned so that the horizontal portion 20 of the upper run of belt 14as well as part of belts 15 and 25 travel through it. Positionedadjacent the inside wall of the drum 29 is a stationary baffle plate 32,the upper end of which 33 is designed to allow particulate material tobe discharged evenly over the width of the belt 25. Other suitabledesigns of the upper end of the baffle plate will be readily apparent toa person skilled in the art.

Also illustrated in the drawings are battered frozen fish portions 34,potato cubes 35, battered frozen fish portions coated on top with potatocubes 36, battered frozen fish portions coated completely with potatocubes 37, means 38 whereby potato cubes are continuously added to theupper run of the belt 25, and arrows indicating the fall of potato cubesinside the drum 39 and 40.

The inside wall of the drum is partitioned by means of radially disposedplates 41 and parallel sides 42 defining peripherally adjacent andinwardly opening pockets which carry the potato cubes 35.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a guiding device comprising a pair of plates 43positioned within the drum in the hollow portion so that their uppersurfaces lie just below the end of the belt 20 which conveys particulatematerial and form longitudinal axes which the gap between the second andare parallel to, and are of the same width as the upstream edge of thesecond belt. The plates 43 are fixed at each end to gables 44,45 inwhich are fixed pins 46,47 supported in bearings 48,49, respectively. Apneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 50 with a reciprocating piston 51 andconnecting rod 52 causes the pin 46 to rock to and from which in turncauses the plates 43 to reciprocate in an axial direction of the drum asindicated by the arrows A--A with a swinging motion.

FIG. 6 illustrates one type of cleaning device for the pockets in thedrum comprising a fixed plastics cover 53 which contacts the inner edgesof the plates 41 and the parallel sides 42, into which is fitted a pipe54 attached to a source of compressed air, having outlets 55.

FIG. 7 illustrates another type of cleaning device for the pockets inthe drum comprising a wire 56 adapted to reciprocate by means of fixedpneumatic cylinders 51.

FIG. 8 illustrates the food coating apparatus of FIG. 1 with a plate 43and pin 46 of the guiding device of the present invention and with aschematic representation of a plate positioned beneath the gap betweenthe first belt 12 and additional belt 13 to adjust an amount ofparticulate material falling from the gap onto the inclined portion ofbelt 14.

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of the present inventions without theadditional belt 13, wherein belt 12 is perforated to enable excessparticulate material to flow therethrough. The drawing Figure provides aschematic representation of a plate which is positioned beneath theupper run of belt 12 to control an amount of particulate materialfalling onto the inclined portion of the second belt 14.

In operation, the upper runs of solid belt 11, wire mesh belts 12 and13, solid belts 14 and 15, the belt 25, the spreading roller 18 and therotating drum 29 travel in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Battered frozen fish portions 34, each weighing 50 g are fed from abattering machine (not shown) on belt 11. Fresh potato cubes 35 havingdimensions of 3 mm×3 mm×7 mm are fed continuously from a means 38 on tothe conveyor belt 25 which vibrates by means of the rotation of thetriangular roller 28. The potato cubes are transported to the end of thebelt which is trained around roller 26 where they fall off and enter thevibrator 21 at the opening 22. The potato cubes leave the vibrator atthe exit opening 23 and fall onto the fish portions which are lying onbelt 12, to give frozen fish portions coated on top 36. Excess potatocubes fall between belts 12 and 13 onto the inclined portion 19 of theupper run of belt 14 via the spreading roller 18. The excess potatocubes are transported on the inclined portion 19 of the upper run ofsolid belt 14 in the direction of the arrow to the horizontal portion 20where the frozen fish portions coated on top travel from belt 13 to lieon the excess potato cubes so that they become completely coated fishportions 37, and pass under the pressure roller 24.

The completely coated fish portions 37 then pass through the rotatingdrum 29. Inside the drum, excess potato cubes 35 fall between belts 14and 15, indicated by the arrows 39, and are guided by the swingingplates 43 of the guiding device illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, wherebythey fall between and on either side of the plates so that they aredistributed over substantially the whole width of the lower part of theinside wall of the drum and travel upwards on the inside wall within thepockets defined by the plates 41 and parallel sides 42 and supported bythe stationary plate 32, until they reach a position above the belt 25where, indicated by the arrows 40, they fall onto the belt 25 and spreadin an even manner owing to the design of the upper end 33 of the plate32. There, they are transported, along with potato cubes fed by means38, to be recirculated by falling off the end of the belt trained aroundroller 26 into the vibrator 21 and onto the battered fish portions 34.

After emerging from the inside of the rotating drum 29 on the wire belt15, the completely coated fish portions are transported to a fryer (notshown) and then deep-frozen.

In an alternative embodiment, the wire mesh belts 12 and 13 may bereplaced by a single wire mesh belt having perforations large enough toallow the potato cubes to fall through directly on to the inclinedportion 19 of the upper run of the belt 14. In this case the solidplates 16 and 17 are absent. This alternative embodiment is alsosuitable for coating confectionery, chocolate or ice cream withparticulate material.

After the potato cubes 35 have fallen from the inside wall of the drumonto the belt 25, the pockets of the drum defined by the radiallydisposed plates 41, and parallel sides 42 are cleaned by a cleaningdevice as illustrated in either FIG. 6 or FIG. 7, positioned on the lefthand side of the drum illustrated in FIG. 2.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, as the drum rotates, a pocketpasses the fixed plastics cover 53 which contacts the inner edges of theplates 41 and the parallel sides 42 so that the pocket is completelycovered before a blast of compressed air emerging through outlets 55dislodges any particulate material which has stuck to the inside wall.Because the pocket is completely covered, no cubes are blown out of themachine.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, as the leading end 41 of eachpocket passes the wire 56, the pneumatic cylinder 57 is timed by asensor to advance the wire into the pocket where it scrapes the innerwall 29 as the drum rotates until the rear end 41 of the pocket reachesthe wire, whereupon the wire is withdrawn by means of the fixedpneumatic cylinder 57.

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for coating a foodstuff with particulate material comprising:a drum having open ends and having an interior wall which circumscribes a drum hollow portion and which is capable of rotating about a substantially horizontal longitudinal axis; a first conveyor positioned to convey material through the drum hollow portion; a second conveyor positioned below the first conveyor to travel to convey material through the drum in a direction substantially opposite the first conveyor, the second conveyor comprising at least first, second and third successive endless belts each having a horizontal upper run and a gap between each successive pair of belts, the second belt having an inclined portion extending from its horizontal upper run towards the first belt terminating at a position below the horizontal run of the first belt, the gap between the second and third belts being situated within the drum hollow portion; at least one plate which is positioned beneath the gap between the second and third belts within the drum hollow portion and having a longitudinal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the gap between the second and third belts for guiding and distributing particulate material falling in the gap from the second belt substantially evenly over the interior wall of the drum; means for feeding particulate material onto the first conveyor; and means for feeding a foodstuff onto the first belt;such that in operation: particulate material is fed from the first conveyor onto the foodstuff on the first belt for coating the foodstuff on an upper side, the coated foodstuff is transported to the second belt with excess particulate material falling off the upstream end of the first belt, the excess particulate material on the second belt is conveyed to the horizontal upper run of the second belt to form a layer on which the coated foodstuff lies after being transported from the first belt to the horizontal upper run of the second belt for coating the foodstuff on a bottom side, the coated foodstuff is fed to the third belt with further particulate material falling from the second belt being guided and distributed by the at least one plate substantially evenly onto the interior wall of the drum which rotates for conveying the further material to a position above the first conveyor upon which the further material falls by gravity, and the first conveyor transports the further material back to the second conveyor.
 2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein each plate is adapted to reciprocate with a pendulous motion about a fixed longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the gap to guide and distribute the particulate material.
 3. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each plate is connected to a hydraulic cylinder to reciprocate the plate.
 4. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein each plate is connected to a pneumatic cylinder to reciprocate the plate.
 5. An apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising an additional belt having a horizontal upper run positioned between the horizontal upper runs of the first and second belts above the inclined portion of the second belt, there being a gap between the horizontal run of the additional belt and each of the horizontal runs of the first belt and the second belt, such that the foodstuff coated on the upper side is transported form the horizontal run of the first belt to the horizontal run of the additional belt and then to the horizontal run of the second belt with excess particulate material falling through the gaps between the first, second and additional belts.
 6. An apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising an additional plate, which is totally adjustable, positioned beneath the gap between the first belt and the additional belt to adjust an amount of particulate material falling from the gap onto the inclined portion of the second belt.
 7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein there are at least two plates.
 8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first belt is perforated.
 9. An apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising an additional plate which is positioned beneath an upper run of the first belt to control an amount of particulate material falling onto the inclined portion of the second belt.
 10. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising an additional belt having a horizontal upper run positioned between the horizontal upper runs of the first and second belts above the inclined portion of the second belt, there being a gap between the horizontal run of the additional belt and each of the horizontal runs of the first belt and the second belt, such that the foodstuff coated on the upper side is transported from the horizontal run of the first belt to the horizontal run of the additional belt and then to the horizontal run of the second belt with excess particulate material falling through the gaps between the first, second and additional belts.
 11. An apparatus according to claim 9 further comprising an additional plate, which is pivotally adjustable, positioned beneath the gap between the first belt and the additional belt to adjust an amount of particulate material falling from the gap onto the inclined portion of the second belt.
 12. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising drum wall plates positioned on the interior drum wall which define drum wall pockets for transporting particulate material distributed to the drum wall by the at least one distributing plate to a position above the first conveyor for depositing, by gravity, the particulate material onto a surface of the first conveyor and further comprising an arcuate stationary baffle plate positioned within the drum adjacent the drum wall plates for retaining particulate material transported by and in the drum wall plates and pockets and for enabling transported particulate material to be distributed from the drum wall plates and pockets onto the first conveyor.
 13. An apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising a cleaning device for cleaning the pockets of the drum positioned at a position of the downward rotation of the drum.
 14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the cleaning device is comprised of a source of compressed air connected to piping having outlets positioned for directing compressed air adjacent inner edges of the plates and pockets.
 15. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the cleaning device is comprised of brush which reciprocates positioned to clean inner edges of the plates and pockets. 